Centrifugal countercurrent exchange device with improved removable strip means



3,327,939 CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE WITH 2 Sheets-Sheet1 jib g y fim w. 5. P. DOYLE ET AL IMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS 501/FIG.6 \565 June 27, 1967 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 FIG. 7

INVENTO R5 WLADZIA G.R DOYLE b mww G w m K COLLIN M. DOYLE fy uzzw- 411%ATTORNEYS P. DOYLE ET AL 3,327,939

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 27, 1967 w CBNTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGEDEVICE WITH IMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS F'lled Nov 15, 1965 INVENTOR5 FIG. 5 WLADZIA G.P. DOYLE COLLIN M. vovua mwwwe/ ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,327,939 CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE WITHIMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS Wlad'zia G. P. Doyle and Collin M. Doyle,both of 21 W. Elm St., Chicago, Ill. 60610 Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No.507,811 2 Claims. (Cl. 23315) This invention relates generally tocentrifugal countercurrent exchange or contacting devices of the typedisclosed in US. Patent Nos. 3,107,218, 3,114,706 and 3,132,100. This isa continuation-in-part of our co-pending patent application entitledCentrifugal Countercurrent Exchange Device With Fully AdjustableApertures, Ser. No. 272,718, filed Apr. 12, 1963, now Patent 3,217,980,issued Nov. 16, 1965.

More particularly, as in the other application, this invention relatesto improvements in such devices which enable a single standardizeddevice or machine to be readily adapted for substantially universal useunder all conditions of operation.

In the aforementioned patents and patent application, the need forhaving a single standardized device which is readily adaptable forsubstantially universal use was amply demonstrated. However, to repeatbriefly, efiicient intimate mixing of the two fluids in the rotor makesit essential that the fluids must first be broken up or dispersed intosmall droplets for each mixing stage. The dispersal or tearing up of thefluids into small droplets for each mixing stage is the most singleimportant element, since it not only enables the fluids to be moreintimately mixed, but it also is directly related to the mixing energywithin the rotor. Thus, where the two liquids being processed are variedand they have different characteristics such as, for example, differentspecific gravities or viscosities, the machines must be designed withdifferent dispersal characteristics to vary the mixing energy within therotor. We have found that an effective way of controlling the dispersalcharacteristics of a machine to render the same suitable for universaluse, is to incorporate removable strips for the bands therein as taughtin our above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 272,718. However,the exchange between the liquids or contacting efficiency thereof,appears to be impaired by internal entrainment or reverse flow ofliquids where the liquids flow through the separator bands and/ orstrips. Toobviate this problem, we have provided strips which are formedto reduce the internal entrainment or reverse flow of the liquids. Toform a strip in such a fashion, the main perforations thereof areventuried or have gradually decreasing areas in a downstream directionwith respect to the respective liquids flowing therethrough to cause theliquids to contact imperforate portions of adjacent bands. The

venturied perforations thus form passages throughout the bands of thecont-actor as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to "provide animproved centrifugal countercur-rent contacting or exchange devicehaving improved means for readily varying and controlling the mixingenergy within said device. I

It is still another object of this invention to provide a centrifugalcounter current contacting or exchange device --of the characterdescribed having means for readily varying and controlling the dispersalcharacteristics as required by the characteristics of the liquids beingprocessed.

It is still further another object of this invention to improve theexchange efficiency in a centrifugal countercurrent contacting orexchange device of the character described by reducing the internalentrainment or reverse flow of liquids therein.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide an improvedcentrifugal contacting or exchange device having removable stripsassociated with the bands thereof that are shaped to reduce theentrainment or reverse flow of liquids therein.

It is still further an important object of this invention to provide auniversally adjustable centrifugal exchange or contacting device withimproved exchange or contact ing efficiency.

It is still even further another object of this invention to provideremovable strips for centrifugal countercurrent exchange devices orcontactors having strips with outwardly and inwardly projectingprotrusions for efficient dispersal or tearing up of the liquids intosmall droplets for each mixing stage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement, and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustnated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, wehave illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodimentsthereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection withthe following description, our invention, its mode of construction,assembly and operation, and many of its advantages can be readilyunderstood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of reference ardemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawmgs:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the rotor of a cont-acting deviceembodying our invention;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary view of one of the end walls of the rotorillustrating access means for the rotor;

FIG. lb is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. la illustrating theaccess means for the rotor;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the contacting deviceof FIG. 1 embodying improved strips in accordance with the principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a view looking downward at the top of one of the strips havingcircular venturied orifices as incorporated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the strips illustrated in both FIGS. 1 and2 taken along a plane passing through the line 3-3 in FIG. 10 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 2 of a strip having venturiedperforations of oblong cross section;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of the strip of FIG. 4 asit would appear assembled in the rotor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an improved strip having perforations andprotrusions projecting in two directions, viz, outwardly and inwardly,when assembled in a centrifugal countercurrent exchange device;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of still another strip embodiment havingperforations and protrusions projecting in two directions, viz,outwardly and inwardly, when the strips are assembled in a rotor;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10--10 in FIG. 8 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10indicates generally a fragmentary portion of the rotor in a centrifugalcountercurrent exchange device embodying the principles of theinvention. Since the device is generally of the type described in theaforementioned patents and the co-pending patent application, all wellknown in the art, and does not per se comprise the subject matter of theinvention, only so much thereof as is necessary for an understanding ofthe subject invention will be described.

Permanently mounted within the rotor is a plurality of separator bands12 and as described in the aforementioned patents and patentapplication, the space in between the bands 12 preferably shouldincrease with increasing radius, or at least be uniform. The separatorbands 12 are mounted in the usual manner, such as by positioning theends thereof within properly spaced and sized concentric grooves 11 inthe end walls 13, 13a of the rotor Til. As in our aforementioned patentsand co-pending patent application, the rotor processes liquidscountercurrently through the bands thereof. The rotor has suitablepassageways such as 20 and 22 in the shaft, respectively supplyingheavier liquid to and removing lighter liquid from the interior of therotor in the proximity of the center area thereof. Also the rotorincludes means or suitable passageways such as 24 and 26 forrespectively forcing lighter liquids into and for discharging heavierliquids from the interior of the rotor in proximity of the peripherythereof. It will be noted that elongated radially aligned perforations14 are formed in the separator bands so that liquids flowingtherethrough collide with imperforate portions of an adjacent separatorband. As in our co-pending patent application, the perforations 14 mayextend substantially the full width of the bands 12 leaving webs 14atherebetween. Access to the bands 12 can be obtained through one of theend walls 13 which has access openings 13b formed therein and closed byremovable plates 15 as illustrated in FIGS. la, lb. The removable accessplates 15 can be of any shape, although they are preferably illustratedas pie shaped, and they can be fastened to the end plates by removablefastening means such as threaded bolts 17. Any number of openings andaccess plates can be provided as long as the access holes and platesafford symmetrical or balanced access to all of the separator bands 12.Also it should be noted that removable spacer plates 19 with grooves 19aare removably interposed between the access plates 15 and bands 12 sothat the spacer plates can receive the bands when the access plates 15are locked in position. Also, when access to the rotor is desired, thespacer plates 1? can be removed when the access plates 15 are removed.

Secured to the bands 12 adjacent each elongated perforation 14 is a pairof opposed channel members 16, 18. The channel members 16, 18 may besubstantially coextensive with the perforations and the same are adaptedto snugly but removably support therebetween novel strips such as 3t),4t), 50 and 66, shown respectively in FIGS. 2 through 9 in the drawings.The strips are of sufiicient length to completely cover the elongatedperforations 14 and the same can be formed in accordance with thedifferent structural configurations illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 10.Also, it will be noted that the channel members 14 and 16 can bedisposed on either side of the bands 12.

Referring particularly to the strip 30 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, itwill be noted that the strip has a plurality of spaced apart venturiedorifices 30a therein in straight line alignment. The venturied orifices30a communicate with the perforations 14 of the bands 12 and have theircross sections increasing from one end of the orifice to the other. Atone end 301), the cross section of the orifice is largest and ispreferably substantially equal in square area to a cross section of theperforations 14; and at the other end 30d of the orifices, the crosssection is smallest. Also, it will be noted that the cross sectionalarea of the venturied orifices 30a are preferably shown as circular.Still further, it will be noted that the strips are mounted in the rotorin FIG. 10 so that the venturied orifices are in radial alignment andare venturied or have gradually decreasing areas in a downstreamdirection with respect to the respective liquids flowing through thebands. Thus the strips are arranged with their venturied orificesforming passageways in either radially outward or radially inwarddirections, depending on which row of orifices is referred to.

Referring particularly to strip 40 illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5, itis seen that venturied orifices 40a are formed therein and are spacedapart in straight line alignment. These venturied orifices are oblong incross section and they communicate with the elongated perforations 14 ofthe bands 12 in the same manner as the strip 30. At one end 4017, thecross section of the orifice is largest and is disposed immediatelyadjacent to the elongated perforations 14; and at the other end 40d ofthe orifice, the cross section is smallest.

Referring particularly to the strip 50 illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7,it will be noted that the strip has a plurality of protrusions 50a, 5%formed therein which extend in opposite directions with respect to thestrip. The protrusions can be formed by denting the strips or in anyother Well known manner and from a top view of FIGURE 6, it will benoted that the protrusions 50a can be disposed at various angles. Also,various patterns of perforations can be formed therein such as, forinstance, the large perforations 50c and the small perforations 50dwhich are shown in straight line alignment disposed adjacent theprotrusions.

Since difierent liquids require different dispersal characteristics,another example of a strip with protrusions and perforations is shown inFIGS. 8 through 10 and is designated by the character reference 60. Thisstrip is shown as having protrusions 60a, 60b extending in oppositedirections at various angles with respect to each other. It will benoted that some of the protrusions are parallel to each other as in FIG.10. Also included in the strip 60 are large perforations 600 in additionto small perforations 65d which are disposed in straight line alignmentgdjbacent to and parallel to some of the protrusions 60a,

To summarize the operation of our invention, it can be seen that whenthe strips 30, 4f) are used in the rotor of a contacting device asillustrated in FIG. 1, the venturied orifices thereof are venturied orhave gradually decreasing areas in a downstream direction with respectto the respective liquids flowing therethrough and cause the liquids tocontact imperforate portions of an adjacent band. With such anarrangement, the orifices of the strips act as conduits for the liquidsflowing therethrough to guide the same against the imperforate region orweb of an adjacent band and thereby cause better dispersal of theliquids to obviate entrainment. Also, in addition to guiding the flowingliquids against an adjacent band, the venturied orifices of the strips30, 40 increase the velocity of the liquids as they flow therethrough sothat when the liquids contact an adjacent band, the dispersion thereofis enhanced to thereby further obviate reverse flow or entrainment.

Although the strips 50, 60 do not have ventured orifices therein, it hasbeen found that enhanced dispersion of the liquids is obtained by usingstrips having oppositely projecting protrusions and perforations asillustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10. Also, a greater range ofadjustability of dispersion characteristics in the contacting devicescan be obtained through the use of different patterns of perforationsand protrusions.

It will thus be seen that from the foregoing description and drawings,without further explanation, that we have provided a countercurrentexchange device including novel interchangeable strips which provide foruniversal adjustability in addition to preventing entrainment, andfulfill other stated objects of our invention in a remarkably unobviousand unexpected fashion. It should be realized that in addition toproviding strips having venturied orifices which are circular or oblongin cross section, other venturied orifices of different cross sectioncan be used within the concept of our invention. Also, different shapesof protrusions and orifices can be used to bring about a variety ofdispersal characteristics in the contacting device and thereforeutilization of different pattern following the principles here disclosedform a part of our invention.

Still further, it is believed that our invention, its mode ofconstruction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readilyunderstood from the foregoing without further description, and it shouldalso be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structuraldetails are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview ofour invention as defined in the appended claims.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A centrifugal countercurrent exchange device including: a rotorhaving a pair of end walls, a plurality of concentric separator bandspositioned in said rotor, said eparator bands being formed with aplurality of perforations, means for supplying heavier liquid to andmeans for removing lighter liquid from the interior of said rotor in theproximity of the central area thereof, means for forcing lighter liquidinto and means for discharging heavier liquid from the interior of saidrotor in the proximity of the periphery thereof, strip means comprisingan elongated plate having spaced apart openings, protrusions formed onone side only of said plate, each of said protrusions having an orificetherein communicating with one of the openings of the plate;

inner strip retaining means comprising a plurality of pairs of innerchannel members, each pair of the inner channel members being attachedto the inside surface of one of said bands and spaced inwardly therefromtoward the central area of the rotor, each channel member of a pair ofsaid inner channel members being positioned on opposed sides of at leastone of the apertures of one of the bands, each of a first group of saidstrip means being removably secured in a tight-fitting relationshipbetween a pair of the inner channel members and the inside surface ofthe corresponding band whereby the free ends of the protrusions extendtoward the central area of the rotor and the openings of thecorresponding plate communicate with at least one of the apertures ofsaid last-mentioned band; outer strip retainer means comprising aplurality of pairs of outer channel members attached to the outsidesurface of said bands and spaced outward therefrom toward the peripheryof the rotor, each channel member of a pair of said outer channelmembers being positioned on opposed sides of at least one of theapertures of one of the bands, each of a second group of said stripmeans being removably secured in a tight-fitting relationship betweensaid lastmentioned channel members and the outside surface of thecorresponding band whereby the free end of the protrusions extendoutward toward the periphery of the rotor and the openings of thecorresponding plate communicate with at least one of the apertures ofsaid last-mentioned band, the exchangeability of said strip means withinthe countercurrent exchange device providing adjustment means to varythe length of the protrusions and the size of the orifice and therebycontrolling the dispersal characteristics of the oppositely flowingliquids within the device. 2. A countercurrent exchange device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the orifice of the protrusion of said stripmeans varies progressively in cross-sectional area with the minimum saidarea being at the free end of said protrusion, the free ends of theprotrusion of said strip means retained in said inner channel membersbeing positioned adjacent an imperforate portion of the next innermostband, the free ends of the protrusions of said strip means retained insaid outer channel members being positioned adjacent an imperforateportion of the next outermost band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,489 7/1904 McLeod 233371,126,247 1/1915 Mason 233-28 2,599,619 6/1952 Eckers 23315 2,758,7838/1956 Podbielniak 23315 3,179,333 4/ 1965 Claridge 233-15 3,217,98011/1965 Podbielniak et al. 23315 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Examiner.

1. A CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE INCLUDING: A ROTORHAVING A PAIR OF END WALLS, A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC SEPARATOR BANDSPOSITIONED IN SAID ROTOR, SAID SEPARATOR BANDS BEING FORMED WITH APLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HEAVIER LIQUID TO ANDMEANS FOR REMOVING LIGHTER LIQUID FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROTOR IN THEPROXIMITY OF THE CENTRAL AREA THEREOF, MEANS FOR FORCING LIGHTER LIQUIDINTO AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING HEAVIER LIQUID FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAIDROTOR IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, STRIP MEANS COMPRISINGAN ELONGATED PLATE HAVING SPACED APART OPENINGS, PROTRUSIONS FORMED ONONE SIDE ONLY OF SAID PLATE, EACH OF SAID PROTRUSIONS HAVING AN ORIFICETHEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF THE OPENINGS OF THE PLATE; INNER STRIPRETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF INNER CHANNELMEMBERS, EACH PAIR OF THE INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING ATTACHED TO THEINSIDE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID BANDS AND SPACED INWARDLY THEREFROM TOWARDTHE CENTRAL AREA OF THE ROTOR, EACH CHANNEL MEMBER OF A PAIR OF SAIDINNER CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED ON OPPOSED SIDES OF AT LEAST ONEOF THE APERTURES OF ONE OF THE BANDS, EACH OF A FIRST GROUP OF SAIDSTRIP MEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED IN A TIGHT-FITTING RELATIONSHIPBETWEEN A PAIR OF THE INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS AND THE INSIDE SURFACE OFTHE CORRESPONDING BAND WHEREBY THE FREE ENDS OF THE PROTRUSIONS EXTENDTOWARD THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE ROTOR AND THE OPENINGS OF THECORRESPONDING PLATE COMMUNICATE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OFSAID LAST-MENTIONED BAND; OUTER STRIP RETAINER MEANS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF PAIRS OF OUTER CHANNEL MEMBERS ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDESURFACE OF SAID BANDS AND SPACED OUTWARD THEREFROM TOWARD THE PERIPHERYOF THE ROTOR, EACH CHANNEL MEMBER OF A PAIR OF SAID OUTER CHANNELMEMBERS BEING POSITIONED ON OPPOSED SIDES OF AT LEAST ONE OF THEAPERTURES OF ONE OF THE BANDS, EACH OF A SECOND GROUP OF SAID STRIPMEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED IN A TIGHT-FITTING RELATIONSHIP BETWENSAID LASTMENTIONED CHANNEL MEMBERS AND THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THECORRESPONDING BAND WHEREBY THE FREE ENDS OF THE PROTRUSIONS EXTENDOUTWARD TOWARD THE PERIHPERY OF THE ROTOR AND THE OPENINGS OF THECORRESPONDING PLATE COMMUNICATE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OFSAID LAST-MENTIONED BAND, THE EXCHANGEABILITY OF SAID STRIP MEANS WITHINTHE COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE PROVIDING ADJUSTMENT MEANS TO VARYTHE LENGTH OF THE PROTRUSIONS AND THE SIZE OF THE ORIFICES AND THEREBYCONTROLLING THE DISPERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OPPOSITELY FLOWINGLIQUIDS WITHIN THE DEVICE.